About Mae

Mae Lu is a Canada-born, So-Cal-raised Asian American 30 Something, living a dream with her hubby & dog in the magical kingdom of Hawaii.

This red-lipstick aficionado designs websites for a living and runs a fledgling lifestyle YouTube Channel in her spare time. On the weekends, if she's not filming, you can find her behind the lens of her Sony A6000, shooting scenery in Hawaii, hiking the hills and ridges of her beloved island home, or chasing the perfect sunset.

Why "thereafterish."? Because "and they lived happily ever thereafter" is just half of every story, and this is mine.

Doing our Civic Duty: Being Good Human Beings

November 6, 2012

I think being a good citizen is about making sure you’re honoring those who fought for those rights and making our voices heard at the polls. But I also think that making sure we’re Good Human Beings to ourselves and to other people in this country is actually part of our Civic Duty as well.

Of course, I am voting today.

However, that’s not what I wanna talk about today. Style blogs like this one are all about consumerism, whether we mean to or not. It’s all in good fun for most of us, and that’s what our forums are mainly about, sharing the fun and shinies. For many of us, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the superficial, shiny and pretty side of life and forget that there are other serious things happening outside of our personal bubble.

I don’t make a lot of money, and I do spend a great deal of my expendable income on myself. I like to lavish myself sometimes, what can I say? I can’t afford luxury goods, but what I can afford does make me happy to some extent. However, very little of that happiness or self-satisfaction or good that I do for myself extends to other people. The things that make us Good People and that edify our spirits often aren’t physical, literal things like the things I showcase on this blog. It’s the things that we do for people who can’t do anything for us that grow our minds and lift our souls.

So, on days like today, when we’re all afire and aflame for our causes and getting wrapped up in who’s going to be the next president, senator, congressperson… let’s light a fire of passion of the same proportion for people who need help.

The Federal Election cost $6 BILLION–that’s $6 BILLION that people donated to presidential election funds. How much did Hurricane Sandy cost? About $50 Billion. Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? Let’s try to focus on the hundreds of thousands of people who actually need the help.

Here’s what you can do for others that will (hopefully) give you an amazing internal glow:

You can donate to Feeding America, which works with volunteers and food banks to bring relief supplies to those affected by the storm. Visit their website to see how you can help today.

Other ways you can help:American Red Cross – Contribute $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999Salvation Army – Contribute $10 by texting STORM to 80888United Way– Contribute $10 by texting RECOVERY to 52000

You can also look at local organizations to see if they are collecting winter and fall clothing, warmth items and survival essentials like toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, etc and make a donation that way.

Share the Love:

About Mae

Mae Lu is a Canada-born, So-Cal-raised Asian American 30 Something, living a dream with her hubby & dog in the magical kingdom of Hawaii.

This red-lipstick aficionado designs websites for a living and runs a fledgling lifestyle YouTube Channel in her spare time. On the weekends, if she's not filming, you can find her behind the lens of her Sony A6000, shooting scenery in Hawaii, hiking the hills and ridges of her beloved island home, or chasing the perfect sunset.

Why "thereafterish."? Because "and they lived happily ever thereafter" is just half of every story, and this is mine.